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KPMG holds Cyber Security Challenge 2017, raising awareness among students in the wake of cyber attack

KPMG holds Cyber Security Challenge 2017...

On 2 November 2017, KPMG in Thailand held the KPMG Cyber Security Challenge 2017, a competition in which 12 teams of students from six universities compete in a series of challenges designed to test their cyber security skillset.

Bangkok, 6 November 2017 – On 2 November 2017, KPMG in Thailand held the KPMG Cyber Security Challenge 2017, a competition in which 12 teams of students from six universities compete in a series of challenges designed to test their cyber security skillset. The competition was hosted with the aim to create awareness in cyber security and to also help the talented next generation gain knowledge of the real threats in today’s advanced technology environment.

During the challenge, the student teams honed their skills in Digital Forensics, Mobile and Web Application Exploitation, Network and System Exploitation, Malware Analysis, Reverse Engineering, Cryptography and Physical Security to tackle multiple sets of challenges simultaneously. After a full day of intense cyber security battle between the teams, the winner and the first runner up teams were announced, with Team CPCUCTF from Chulalongkorn University securing first place and Team 555+ from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang as runner up.

“At KPMG, we want to raise the awareness of the rising threats of cyber security, especially within Thailand. Although the Thai government have planned to introduce new cyber security legislation and a National Cyber Security Committee, awareness within the country and private sectors should still ideally be increased, said Srisucha Limtong, Advisory Partner, Head of Management Consulting, KPMG in Thailand. “Nowadays,” she continues, “cybercrime is no longer a distant threat and the KPMG Cyber Security Challenge 2017 in Thailand is a way for us to help build and support the future workforce in their capabilities in combatting these threats.”

Not just within ASEAN, cybercrimes are on the increase globally. Just a few months back was the global cybersecurity attack, the WannaCry ransomware, which infected over 200,000 systems in 150 countries. In the last month alone, several cyber-attacks were reported, starting with Yahoo’s admittance of how all of its three billion user’s accounts were compromised when they were hacked in 2013, not just the one billion they initially reported; and the attack of the Bad Rabbit ransomware on business computers in Europe.

Cybercrimes have long existed, but now cyber security vulnerability is at an all-time high. According to KPMG’s 2017 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey, the world’s largest survey of IT leadership, a third of IT leaders (32 percent) reported their organization had been subject to a major cyber-attack in the past 24 months – a 45 percent increase from 2013. Only one in five (21 percent) say they are ‘very well’ prepared to respond to these attacks, down from 29 percent in 2014.

“Nowadays, there are several new emerging technologies that are not only limited to computers. Traditional households have become smart homes with the help of IoT. Technology helps our lives stay connected in the way that has never happened before. On the other hand, it also increases the risk of cyber-attack on a daily basis. This competition is full of out-of-classroom experiences, and allows us to be well aware of the importance of cyber security,” said Sutham Thitiannapakorn, representative for Team CPCUCTF, Chulalongkorn University.

“We are proud to play a part in shaping the talented students to be at the forefront of cyber security. It is very exciting for us at KPMG to see how brilliant today’s students are and I look forward to them becoming a strong foundation of our country’s digital infrastructure,” said Srisucha.

Team CPCUCTF and Team 555+ have received THB 50,000 and THB 30,000 cash prize, respectively. They will also be sponsored by KPMG in Thailand to compete on a regional level at the KPMG Cyber Security Challenge event to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 21 November 2017.

Team 555+ from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang is runner up.

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 152 countries and have 189,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

About KPMG in Thailand

KPMG in Thailand, with more than 1,500 professionals offering audit, tax, and advisory services, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.